Allianz Technology Share Discussion Threads

[waldron] 17/10/2006 15:17

Alcatel wins 48-satellite order
By Rob Coppinger
On 15 November, Franco-Italian joint venture Alcatel Alenia Space is expected to sign a contract - potentially worth billions of euros - to become the prime contractor for 48 low Earth orbit (LEO) 500kg (1,100lb) communication satellites for mobile communication provider Globalstar.

Last week, the European satellite manufacturer announced its €7.7 million ($9.6 million) authorisation to proceed (ATP) agreement with Globalstar.

This will see Alcatel Alenia Space conduct a programme readiness review and develop milestones for Globalstar's second generation of satellites that will populate the 48-spacecraft constellation.

The constellation's 500kg, 1kW power satellites that Alcatel Alenia Space is to design, develop and deliver, will have a life span of 15 years while operating in LEO. The ATP will end when the constellation contract is signed in November.

[grupo guitarlumber] 14/10/2006 12:04

Oct. 25, 2006 3rd Quarter 2006 Results
Oct. 27, 2006 Retail Shareholders Meeting, Paris, Maison de la Chimie
Nov. 13, 2006 Retail Shareholders Meeting, Lyon
Nov. 15, 2006 TMT Conference, organized by Morgan Stanley, Barcelona,
Nov. 17-18, 2006 Forum Actionnaria, Paris
Nov. 29, 2006 Retail Shareholders Meeting, Brussels
Dec. 12, 2006 Retail Shareholders Meeting, Strasbourg
Feb. 1, 2007 4th Quarter and Full Year 2006 Results

[grupo guitarlumber] 13/10/2006 08:55

Thales, Finmeccanica plan JV to acquire Alcatel space unit - report

PARIS (AFX) - Thales and Finmeccanica are seeking authorisation from the
European Commission to create a joint venture to acquire Alcatel unit Alcatel
Alenia Space, the daily Le Figaro said, without citing sources.
Thales agreed earlier this year to acquire Alcatel's 67 pct in the space
entity, in which Finmeccanica has 33 pct, as part of a broader agreement that
would also see Alcatel's stake in Thales rise to 21.6 pct from 9.5.
The commission has set a Nov 14 deadline for its inquiry into the planned
deal.

[e-mail]
mjs/jfr

[waldron] 06/10/2006 08:32

Alcatel-Lucent merger review by US to take another 45 days - report

PARIS (AFX) - The US Treasury's foreign investment vetting panel will take
an additional 45 days to study the planned merger of Alcatel and Lucent, the
daily Les Echos said, without citing sources.
The panel, which reviews investments in US companies holding military
contracts for strategic or sensitive work, normally completes its reviews within
30 days. It then makes recommendations that the US president has 15 days to
approve or reject.
[e-mail]
mjs/hjp

[waldron] 05/10/2006 11:32

EU sets deadline for inquiry into Thales, Alcatel merger for Nov 7
PARIS (AFX) - The European Commission said the deadline for its inquiry into
the proposed merger between Thales and Alcatel is set for Nov 7.
In April, Alcatel bid to up its stake in Thales to 21.6 pct from 9.5 pct, in
exchange for the transfer of its satellite and transport systems.







[e-mail]
sz/lam

[waldron] 29/9/2006 12:24

Cheuvreux: Alcatel CEO Bullish On Future

Friday, September 29, 2006 5:46:38 AM ET
Dow Jones Newswires



0835 GMT [Dow Jones] Cheuvreux reiterates Alcatel (ALA) at outperform, saying "a rather bullish" Chief Executive Serge Tchuruk highlighted three points at the autumn conference. Alcatel says the CDMA market will remain stable and the company aims to gain two points in market share in UMTS to reach 15%. Also the net pension and healthcare liabilities in the opening balance sheet could be less than initially expected due to a higher discount rate. The EUR1.4B in synergies forecasted in the merger with Lucent (LU) could also be exceeded. Alcatel +1.6% at EUR9.7. (NAS)

[waldron] 21/9/2006 13:01

CORRECTION Nokia, Alcatel tie up to boost business offering on E-series handsets

(corrects headline, lead to say deal extends Alcatel business telephony
services to Nokia E-series handsets)
HELSINKI (AFX) - Nokia said it is teaming up with Alcatel to extend the
French telecom group's business telephony offering to its E-series devices.
Nokia said its Intellisync Call Connect for Alcatel package will enable the
integration of E-series handsets into the Alcatel IP Communication server.
This will allow popular desk phone functions, such as call conferencing and
dial by name, to become available to mobile users, and enable companies greater
control of their communication costs.
The technology will become available to businesses from the fourth quarter,
Nokia said.
[e-mail]
je/jms

[waldron] 21/9/2006 10:49

Nokia is the world leader in mobile communications. Backed by its experience, innovation, user-friendliness and secure solutions, the company has become the leading supplier of mobile phones and a leading supplier of mobile, fixed and IP networks. By adding mobility to the Internet Nokia creates new opportunities for companies and further enriches the daily lives of people. Nokia is a broadly held company with listings on six major exchanges.



Alcatel and Nokia collaborate to extend business telephony


Intellisync Call Connect from Nokia integrates Nokia Eseries with Alcatel OmniPCX

Paris, France and Espoo, Finland - Alcatel (PARIS: CGEP.PA and NYSE:ALA) and Nokia (NYSE:NOK) have announced a collaboration which extends Alcatel's business telephony offering to the mobile workforce by way of the Nokia Eseries, a range of business class devices. The Intellisync Call Connect for Alcatel, is a Nokia offering designed to integrate Nokia Eseries devices into the Alcatel IP Communication server. The collaboration reaffirms both companies' commitment to mobilizing business communications.

Intellisync Call Connect for Alcatel capitalizes on the capabilities of the Alcatel OmniPCX Enterprise as well as the power of Nokia Eseries. With the solution, popular desk phone functionalities are available to the mobile user. For example, employees manage just one business number, and control where and when and on which device they receive their calls. Additionally, the benefits of the office phone, such as call conferencing, call back, and dial by name are delivered with the ease of use of Nokia Eseries, within the enterprise environment.

While employees enjoy the freedom to work from any location, enterprises can enjoy the increased accessibility of employees and profit from substantial cost savings. The IP telephony infrastructure enables companies to take advantage of Alcatel's Least Cost Routing capabilities, significantly reducing international mobile calling charges and providing greater control of overall communication costs.

The solution brings added transparency to the company's telephony cost structure by making the billing records easily available, and can help companies identify costly elements in their telephony system. The information provided by the solution can assist a company to plan and build the most efficient telephony system for its business.

"Together with Alcatel, Nokia has a great opportunity to expand the adoption of converged mobility solutions," said Scott Cooper, Vice President, Mobility Solutions, Nokia. "While enterprise voice solutions from Nokia are designed to work with leading enterprise communications solutions, the introduction of the new solution that integrates Nokia Eseries with the Alcatel OmniPCX is a significant milestone for us. Alcatel and Nokia are at the forefront in bringing solutions to the mobile marketplace that help overcome the barrier between fixed and mobile communications, thus making business communications more efficient both in and out the office."

"Alcatel and Nokia are teaming up to give both the business and the employee greater flexibility in their daily communications," said Jean-Christophe Giroux, President, Alcatel enterprise solutions division. "With a business enabled mobile phone, employees have the freedom to work where it is most productive, while enterprises receive the benefits of predictable and controllable communications costs and enhanced customer service, as callers make immediate contact with the right person. Together, Alcatel and Nokia are delivering on our commitment to mobility and the enterprise."

The new Intellisync Call Connect for Alcatel offering is part of the Intellisync Mobile Suite from Nokia. The Nokia business portfolio also features the high-performance Nokia Eseries devices which combine attractive and easy-to-use designs that appeal to individual business users with underlying technologies that allow IT departments to effectively manage security settings, corporate applications and data, and software that enable mobile applications such as email, enterprise voice and device management.

Alcatel's OmniPCX Enterprise is an integrated, interactive communications solution that delivers Alcatel's Cellular Extension software to enable Intellisync Call Connect. Currently, Intellisync Call Connect for Alcatel utilizes the cellular network to connect to a company's PBX infrastructure, and will be enhanced to support both cellular and WiFi networks with dual mode phones in the near future.

The solution will be available during the fourth quarter of 2006 through Alcatel and Nokia resellers, a few of whom commented on the opportunity:
"Trials of the Intellisync Call Connect for Alcatel solution within NextiraOne are going extremely well," said Neil Moss, Marketing and Strategy Director for NextiraOne. "Employees have given us very positive feedback on the system's ease of use, rich features and tight integration of the Nokia and Alcatel technology. Increased enterprise mobility is a key factor in helping our customers change the way they do business and Intellisync Call Connect represents another major step towards truly unified communications, which lies at the heart of NextiraOne's go-to-market strategy."

"Our enterprise customers are going through a shift as they are evolving their business voice communications systems from separate fixed and mobile infrastructures into one converged system," said Anders Nordin, Director Product Management at TDC Dotcom, Sweden. "Our role, as a systems integrator dedicated to serving the enterprise customer, is to help our customer plan their investment by mapping out their current and desired status, resources and other factors. The new solution for Nokia Eseries will be a key element in merging the two systems."

"There is a growing need to enhance mobility among enterprise users. Our customers expect to access business voice applications with their mobile devices with the same level of functionality, reliability and security as they are used with fixed and IP telephony services. With the introduction of Intellisync Call Connect for Alcatel from Nokia we can respond to our customers' needs precisely and strengthen further our fixed and wireless IP telephony strategy," says Jorma Mellin, Product Director of TDC Song, Finland.

About Alcatel
Alcatel provides communications solutions to telecommunication carriers, Internet service providers and enterprises for delivery of voice, data and video applications to their customers or employees. Alcatel brings its leading position in fixed and mobile broadband networks, applications and services, to help its partners and customers build a user-centric broadband world. With sales of EURO 13.1 billion and 58,000 employees in 2005, Alcatel operates in more than 130 countries. For more information, visit Alcatel on the Internet:

About Nokia
Nokia is a world leader in mobile communications, driving the growth and sustainability of the broader mobility industry. Nokia connects people to each other and the information that matters to them with easy-to-use and innovative products like mobile phones, devices and solutions for imaging, games, media and businesses. Nokia provides equipment, solutions and services for network operators and corporations.

Media Enquiries:

Alcatel
Stéphane Lapeyrade
Tel. [phone]
E-mail: stephane.lapeyrade@alcatel.

[blank frank] 19/9/2006 20:22

Please note the following new thread which may be of interest:
"Telecom Shares You Should Buy: The Tips League Table"

[waldron] 10/9/2006 15:34

Are Lucent, Alcatel undervalued?

One big shareholder claims they are
Posted by the Asbury Park Press on 09/10/06
BLOOMBERG NEWS SERVICE

Lucent Technologies Inc. and Alcatel SA shares are undervalued given the savings they will see after they combine, Lucent's third-biggest stakeholder said last week.

The combined company should trade 50 percent higher than where the two stocks are now, said Tony DeSpirito, money manager at New York-based Pzena Investment Management, which owns 5.3 percent of Lucent and has been buying shares of both.

Alcatel, the world's biggest maker of broadband Internet equipment, is paying about $10 billion for Lucent and plans to cut $1.7 billion in costs within three years. Shares of both have tumbled 25 percent since the deal was announced in April amid a slump in technology stocks and declining sales at Lucent.

"There's been some short-term bad news, but in the long run the base businesses of these two companies are intact," DeSpirito said in an interview. "We like the synergies."

Shareholders of Paris-based Alcatel and Murray Hill, New Jersey-based Lucent approved the deal Thursday, creating a communications equipment maker with $25 billion in sales. About 9,000 jobs will be cut, accounting for 55 percent of cost reductions. The deal is expected to close by year-end.

DeSpirito, 38, whose firm oversees $22 billion, said he expects the combined company to increase sales by about 4 percent to 6 percent a year, in line with his industry forecast.

"These two companies have much better products" than the market recognizes, he said. "We're really excited by this."

Alcatel agreed in April to pay 0.1952 of its American depositary shares for every Lucent share, valuing the purchase at $13.5 billion at the time. Alcatel shareholders will own 60 percent of the company and Lucent's the rest.

[waldron] 07/9/2006 19:50

RPT ROUNDUP Alcatel, Lucent shareholders approve merger, creating telecoms giant

(Clarifies Tchuruk's title in merged company, corrects number of merger
resolutions at Alcatel AGM in 5th paragraph)
PARIS (AFX) - Alcatel and Lucent Technologies shareholders have approved the
proposed merger of the two companies, a 13.5 bln eur deal that will create the
world's leading fixed-line equipment maker and third-largest for mobile
equipment.
Alcatel will offer 1 share for every 5 Lucent shares, with the merger
expected to be completed by the end of this year.
The project still needs approval from the US Treasury's Committee on Foreign
Investments in the United States (CFIUS), since Lucent's Bell Labs conducts
classified research and development work for the US government.
"I am delighted that Alcatel's shareholders have approved our strategic
merger with Lucent Technologies, and I thank them for their trust," said CEO
Serge Tchuruk after the company's AGM in Paris, which had a record attendance
quorum of 40.1 pct.
All the resolutions relating to the merger were passed, with at least 85 pct
of the votes in favour of the measures.
Tchuruk will be non-executive chairman of the combined group, with the chief
executive role going to Lucent CEO Patricia Russo. The company will be based in
Paris.
"Today we received approval for the merger from Lucent's shareowners, and as
a result, we are another step closer to creating the first truly global
communications solutions provider with the broadest wireless, wireline and
services portfolio in the industry," said Russo after the Lucent AGM in
Wilmington, Delaware.
"This offensive strategy, strengthened by the projects to acquire some of
Nortel's assets and the reinforcement of our partnership with Thales, aims to
increase Alcatel's value for its shareholders, and to provide its customers with
the broadest portfolio," Tchuruk said.
Just days after announcing the Lucent merger, Tchuruk unveiled a deal to
sell Alcatel's satellite construction business to Thales, in exchange for an
additional 12.1 pct stake in the company, bringing its Thales holding to 21.6
pct.
And earlier this month, Alcatel agreed to buy the UMTS radio access business
of Canadian rival Nortel Networks for 320 mln usd.
[e-mail]
AFP/js/js/joy/js/jfr

[waldron] 05/9/2006 16:20

Alcatel Lucent Merger Better Than Nothing-UBS

Tuesday, September 05, 2006 7:14:38 AM ET
Dow Jones Newswires



1004 GMT [Dow Jones] UBS says Alcatel (ALA) is paying too much for Lucent (LU) but it is still better that the merger is approved than not. "We see standalone Alcatel as the worst possibility," it adds. Points out that EUR1.26B in cost synergies by 08 will be sufficient to offset dilution from the merger deal terms and share of the combined entity can trade up to the EUR12.50 level over the next 12 months as visibility improves. UBS maintains at buy 2 rating on Alcatel and price target for the combined entity of EUR12.50. Alcatel -1.7% to EUR9.6. (NAS)

[ariane] 01/9/2006 15:47

Alcatel downgraded to "sell"

Friday, September 01, 2006 8:00:22 AM ET
Dresdner Kleinwort Wasser.

LONDON, September 1 (newratings.com) - Analyst Per Lindberg of Dresdner Kleinwort downgrades Alcatel SA (CGE.ETR) from "hold" to "sell." The target price is set to €8.60.

In a research note published this morning, the analyst mentions that the company intends to acquire Nortel Networks' UMTS radio arm. The potential deal may adversely impact Alcatel's profitability, Dresdner Kleinwort says. The potential acquisition is, however, expected to raise the company's R&D going forward, the analyst adds.

[ariane] 01/9/2006 10:03

Alcatel Gets Good Price For Nortel Unit

Friday, September 01, 2006 4:44:03 AM ET
Dow Jones Newswires



0733 GMT [Dow Jones] Alcatel SA (ALA) got a good price for its purchase of Nortel's (NT) UMTS access unit, says a Paris-based analyst. "We were expecting something closer to $500 million so the price they got is very good," the analyst says. Adds that the bolstering of Alcatel's presence in UMTS helps its merger with Lucent (LU). "It strengthens the case for a merger since both companies need more of a UMTS presence," the analsyt says. Alcatel trades -0.1% to EUR9.9.(NAS)

[ariane] 01/9/2006 10:03

Alcatel Gets Good Price For Nortel Unit

Friday, September 01, 2006 4:44:03 AM ET
Dow Jones Newswires



0733 GMT [Dow Jones] Alcatel SA (ALA) got a good price for its purchase of Nortel's (NT) UMTS access unit, says a Paris-based analyst. "We were expecting something closer to $500 million so the price they got is very good," the analyst says. Adds that the bolstering of Alcatel's presence in UMTS helps its merger with Lucent (LU). "It strengthens the case for a merger since both companies need more of a UMTS presence," the analsyt says. Alcatel trades -0.1% to EUR9.9.(NAS)

[ariane] 01/9/2006 10:03

Alcatel Gets Good Price For Nortel Unit

Friday, September 01, 2006 4:44:03 AM ET
Dow Jones Newswires



0733 GMT [Dow Jones] Alcatel SA (ALA) got a good price for its purchase of Nortel's (NT) UMTS access unit, says a Paris-based analyst. "We were expecting something closer to $500 million so the price they got is very good," the analyst says. Adds that the bolstering of Alcatel's presence in UMTS helps its merger with Lucent (LU). "It strengthens the case for a merger since both companies need more of a UMTS presence," the analsyt says. Alcatel trades -0.1% to EUR9.9.(NAS)

[waldron] 31/8/2006 17:55

Alcatel boss defends terms of Lucent tie-up
The Associated Press
THURSDAY, AUGUST 31, 2006
PARIS Alcatel SA chief executive Serge Tchuruk defended the terms of his company's planned US$13.4 billion (€10.5 billion) tie-up with U.S. rival Lucent Technologies Inc., in an interview published Thursday by financial daily Les Echos.

The proposed share swap is appropriate for a friendly merger of the kind unveiled by the two telecoms equipment makers in April and cannot be changed, Tchuruk said.

The Alcatel boss was speaking after French shareholder advisory firm Proxinvest came out against the terms of the tie-up, suggesting that Alcatel holders were getting a rough deal and advising them to vote against it at the company's shareholder meeting Sept. 7.

Lucent shareholders are set to vote on the proposed deal at a meeting the same day.

Proxinvest argued that the proposed swap of one new Alcatel share for five Lucent shares did not take adequate account of disappointing recent financial results posted by Lucent or the company's large pension liabilities.

"The stock prices of the two companies are now linked, and it's not possible to change the merger parities," Tchuruk said.

Lucent's total pension liabilities were more than comfortably covered by its assets, he said. "It's a non-subject."

Tchuruk also defended the choice of Lucent as a merger partner for Alcatel.

"It's a heavyweight, and only a marriage between heavyweights can bring an important flow of synergies," he said. "This combination will shift Alcatel toward the world's largest market, the United States. I should also add that the potential partners for a large deal were not so abundant."

[waldron] 31/8/2006 07:17

Alcatel CEO says 'not possible' to alter Lucent merger terms

PARIS (AFX) - Alcatel chief executive Serge Tchuruk hit back at opposition
from disgruntled shareholders to the share exchange ratio of his group's merger
deal with Lucent Technologies, saying it is "not possible to change the terms."
In an interview with Les Echos, Tchuruk said "the stock market prices of the
two groups are now linked and it is not possible to change the terms of the
deal."
He said "the price was chosen based on the period preceding the first market
rumours, giving a very favourable ratio on a historical basis".
"When I see the volatility in our sector and the considerable stakes of this
merger, these questions over swap terms, while legitimate, do not appear to me
to be what I consider essential."
Proxinvest, a French investor advisory firm, has called on shareholders to
vote down the proposed merger of Alcatel and Lucent Technologies at their
respective AGMs on Sept 7.
It believes that in light of the uncertainties surrounding Lucent's massive
pension and retiree liabilities, Alcatel should be offering one share for 6 or 7
Lucent shares, instead of the 1-for-5 ratio announced in April.
The advisory firm also noted Lucent's profit-warning in April, just a few
weeks after the merger was announced, as well as the decision to require
two-thirds of the new board to approve any change of either the chairman or CEO.
US and French brokers have added to the pressure on the two groups with
pessimistic notes on the prospects of the deal, notably highlighting Lucent's
pension liabilities.
According to a filing Tuesday with the SEC, the US stock market regulator,
disgruntled Lucent shareholders have applied to a New Jersey court to postpone
the group's AGM.
[e-mail]
mrg/cmr

[waldron] 30/8/2006 17:39

Paris shares close up as Wall St rises on US GDP cheer UPDATE

(updates with full report)
PARIS (AFX) - Share prices closed firmly higher as Wall Street shook off
early sluggishness after a second-quarter GDP report showed that the US economy
might be slightly stronger than previously thought, dealers said.
The CAC-40 index closed up 22.47 points or 0.44 pct at 5,182.79, on total
volume of 3.6 bln eur.
31 CAC-40 stocks closed up and eight down.
On the Matif, September CAC-40 futures were trading 15 points firmer at
5,182.5, and the euro rose to 1.2824 usd from 1.2763 usd late yesterday.
The US Commerce Department said the economy as measured by the GDP grew at a
2.9 percent annual rate in the second quarter, better than first estimated last
month.
Natexis said it was reassured by the 4.7 pct jump reported in capital
investment, originally reported at 2.7 pct.
A wave of corporate news was moving specific blue chips, but dealers said
underlying sentiment remains strong in the wake of corporate earnings that have
mostly met or exceeded analyst forecasts.
Alcatel put in strong gains, closing up 0.38 or 3.95 pct at 9.99 eur as
Merrill Lynch resumed coverage with a 'buy' rating, advising shareholders to
vote to approve its merger deal with Lucent at the AGM on Sept 7.
But dealers noted that some investors could withhold their approval unless
Alcatel pays less for Lucent, which faces heavy US pension and health care
liabilities. French advisory firm Proxinvest said yesterday that Alcatel should
exchange 1 share for 6-7 Lucent shares, instead of the 1-for-5 ratio agreed in
April.
According to a filing late yesterday with the SEC, the US stock market
regulator, disgruntled Lucent shareholders have applied to a New Jersey court to
postpone the group's AGM.
Alstom extended recent gains, climbing 3.05 or 4.20 pct at 75.75 after
winning a 300 mln eur order for two power plants from a Gaz de France unit.
Gaz de France, fell 0.13 at 29.28. Shareholder activist Knight Vinke has
called on the French government to improve the terms being offered by GDF to
Suez as part of their planned merger, or else launch a full cash bid for Suez.
Suez gave away 0.18 at 33.51 and EDF showed the sharpest losses on the
CAC-40, down 0.72 or 1.59 pct at 44.44, after news of a government plan that
would allow French businesses to return to a regulated electricity tariff
structure, even though they opted to buy on the open market several years ago,
when prices were low.
EDF is by far the largest electricity provider to the non-regulated market,
but Suez is also a major supplier to the nearly 565,000 small and medium-sized
companies who would be eligible to return to a regulated structure.
EDF warned today that the measure would have a "significant impact" on 2007
and 2008 earnings.
On the second line, TF1 slumped 0.62 or 2.39 pct at 25.30 after the
broadcaster posted better first-half earnings than expected, but warned of a
renewed downturn in ad spending in August.
Rival M6 added to yesterday's losses, shedding 0.40 or 1.58 pct at 24.91.
Scor fell 0.12 or 5.97 pct at 1.89 after posting first half profits ahead of
expectations, but dealers said they were eclipsed by a drop in the combined
ratio for non-life divisions. Analysts at heavyweight brokerage CA Cheuvreux cut
their rating on the stock to '3 Underperform' from '2 Outperform' after the
figures were released.
Euronext advanced 2.15 or 3.18 pct at 69.80 as strong August volume figures
for its cash and derivatives markets offset the markets operator's weaker than
expected second-quarter results, dealers said.
[e-mail]
mrg/abr

[waldron] 30/8/2006 09:49

Citigroup Supports Alcatel Lucent Merger

Wednesday, August 30, 2006 3:28:51 AM ET
Dow Jones Newswires



0606 GMT [Dow Jones] Citigroup reiterates buy recommendation on Alcatel (ALA) with a EUR14 price target, saying that while there is some speculation investors may block the merger with Lucent (LU) "we don't understand why and see a compelling value case for a combined entity, provided cost synergies are met." Says that on a pro-forma basis, Alcatel and Lucent could generate EPS of EUR0.71 in 2007 and EUR0.99 in 2008, excluding merger charges and Lucent's gross pension credits. Says synergy targets are not aggressive and sees more potential for cost cutting. Alcatel shares closed at EUR9.61. (NAS)